To write a literature review, search the research on a defined question, evaluate it, and synthesize it by theme to show what is known, what is disputed and what is missing. The result is an argument about the state of knowledge.
This page gives a practical method that suits graduate assignments, thesis chapters and standalone reviews: choosing a review type, searching, recording sources in a matrix, organizing, writing and checking.
Seven Steps to a Literature Review
- Define a focused question and scope.
- Choose the review type your assignment calls for.
- Search databases with planned terms and record the process.
- Screen sources against clear criteria.
- Extract key details into a synthesis matrix.
- Organize by theme, method or debate.
- Write synthesized paragraphs that end in a clear gap or conclusion.
Types of Literature Review
| Type | Purpose | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative | Summarize and interpret a body of work | Expert-guided selection; flexible |
| Integrative | Combine empirical and theoretical sources, often across designs | Common in nursing; structured but inclusive |
| Scoping | Map the extent and nature of evidence on a broad topic | Systematic search; usually no formal quality appraisal |
| Systematic | Answer a precise question with all relevant evidence | Predefined protocol, appraisal and reporting standards |
| Meta-analysis | Statistically pool quantitative results | Effect sizes combined across studies |
Most course assignments and thesis chapters are narrative or integrative. Our guide comparing a systematic review and a literature review explains when the more formal method is required.
Searching the Literature
- Break your question into concepts, for example with PICO for clinical questions.
- List synonyms for each concept and combine them: OR within a concept, AND between concepts.
- Use truncation, such as nurs* for nurse, nurses and nursing.
- Search the main databases for your field, such as CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, ERIC or Scopus.
- Set and justify limits for date, language and publication type.
- Follow references and citing articles of key papers.
- Record each search so you can report it.
Building a Synthesis Matrix
A synthesis matrix is a table with one row per source and columns for the details you need to compare. It is the single most useful tool for moving from summary to synthesis.
| Source | Aim | Design and sample | Key findings | Limitations | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author, year | What it asked | e.g. survey, n = 210 | Main results | e.g. single site | e.g. mentoring and retention |
Read across rows that share a theme to see where studies agree, disagree or fall silent. Those patterns become your paragraphs.
Structuring the Review
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Introduction | States the topic, question, scope and how the review is organized; may summarize the search |
| Body sections | Each develops one theme, method or debate, synthesizing several sources |
| Conclusion | Summarizes what is known, identifies gaps and states implications for research or practice |
Thematic organization suits most reviews. Chronological order works when thinking has shifted over time, and methodological grouping helps when design shapes results.
Writing Synthesized Paragraphs
Each body paragraph should open with a claim about the literature, support it with several sources, note differences and explain what they mean. Evaluate as you go: sample size, design and setting all affect how much weight a finding deserves.
Evaluating Sources as You Write
A review that only reports findings leaves the reader to judge their worth. Build evaluation into every section with a few consistent questions:
- What design was used, and what can that design show?
- How large and how representative was the sample?
- Were the measures valid and reliable?
- Does the setting resemble the one your question concerns?
- Do the authors' conclusions go beyond their data?
In health and nursing reviews, a recognized appraisal tool, such as a CASP checklist or the Johns Hopkins tools, gives this evaluation a consistent basis. Name the tool if you use one.
Example Paragraph
Simulation-based training consistently improves nursing students' self-reported confidence in deteriorating-patient scenarios (Adeyemi, 2020; Brennan et al., 2022; Kaur, 2023). Evidence that it improves observed performance is thinner: only Brennan et al. (2022) assessed skills objectively, and their effect was smaller than the confidence gains reported elsewhere. Because most studies used single cohorts without comparison groups, it remains unclear whether simulation outperforms other active teaching methods.
The paragraph makes a claim, groups sources, contrasts outcome types and evaluates design. The citations are illustrative.
Literature Review Checklist
- Question and scope stated clearly.
- Search terms, databases and limits recorded.
- Sources current, with seminal works where relevant.
- Organized by theme, method or debate, not by author.
- Each paragraph synthesizes several sources.
- Quality of evidence evaluated, not just reported.
- Contradictory evidence included and discussed.
- Gap or conclusion follows from the review.
- Citations accurate in the required style.
Common Failures
- One paragraph per source, like an annotated bibliography.
- No evaluation of study quality.
- Over-reliance on quotations.
- Sources that drift away from the question.
- A gap stated at the end that the review never showed.
How IvyDrafts Helps with Literature Reviews
Send your topic or question, the required review type, your word count and style, and any sources you have already found. A graduate writer returns a custom literature review for study and reference, a synthesis matrix, or detailed feedback on your own draft.
All sources are real and cited accurately, and the work is written from scratch and plagiarism-checked. Free revisions within the scope of your original request are included.
Turn Your Reading into a Review That Argues
Send your topic, question, source list and word count. Your writer returns a custom literature review or a synthesis matrix to guide your own draft.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the assignment. Course reviews may be a few thousand words; thesis chapters are often much longer. Follow your brief.
Enough to cover the main evidence on your question. Your brief or supervisor will usually indicate what is expected.
Yes, if relevant, such as policy documents or guidelines. Explain why you included it.
An annotated bibliography summarizes sources one by one. A literature review synthesizes them into an argument.
It depends on your discipline and style. APA 7th allows first person where appropriate; check your program's preference.
Many reviews focus on the past five to ten years, with older seminal sources included where they matter.